Sunday, 11 September 2016

12 September 2016

Collects

Prayers
developed from the daily readings

Monday 12 September
2016

Morning
Prayer

Psalm 33

This psalm is a great hymn
of praise to God citing evidence including creation, oversight of nations,
strength beyond that of people or war-horses and the steadfast love that
delivers our souls from death. The psalm ends saying our souls wait for the
Lord, our hearts are glad because we trust and with an appeal for God’s
steadfast love to be with us.

Habakkuk
1: 1 – 11

Habakkuk
asks God how long will we cry out for help against a ruthless enemy, a fierce
impetuous nation that marches through the earth, seizes everything: whose
warriors are swifter than leopards and more menacing than wolves. They gather
captives like sand and scoff at rulers and kings. Their own might is their God.

Matthew
4: 12 – 22

After
Jesus’s temptation by the evil one and when he hears of John the Baptist’s
arrest he withdraws to Capernaum, which in itself, fulfils a prophecy of
Isaiah’s. There he begins his ministry. He meets Simon called Peter and his
brother Andrew and Zebedee's sons James and John, and calls them to come with
him and fish for people. They leave their nets, boats and families and follow
Jesus.

Collect for
Morning Prayer

Fisher sculpture with the Morning StarFremantle Harbour WA L Osburn

Holy and Almighty God you have been with your faithful people in times when
ruthless enemies sweep through the earth and take those you love and those who
faithfully proclaim you Lord of all. Help us now to reject the temptations of
the evil one and to take time to hear your call to us. Enable us to act in ways
that build a future based on your love and mercy through Jesus Christ who died
for us. Amen.

Monday 12 September
2016

Evening
Prayer

Psalm 31

This powerful psalm is on
the theme of taking refuge in God and has the words “Into your hand I commit my
spirit”. The second part asks for God’s grace and the final part praises God
and encourages us to love the Lord, “be strong and let your heart take courage”
(v. 24).

1 Maccabees 1: 1 – 19

After Alexander the
Great’s conquering reign and death the kingdom was divided up and the Seleucids
reigned over Israel.

Antiochus Epiphanes is
ruler and with the assistance of people, who compromise the Mosaic Law, begins
a program of making Israel Hellenist and abandoning Jewish traditions.
Antiochus, feeling secure, invades Egypt.

Ephesians 1: 1 – 14

Paul
begins blessing God and saying how God, chose us before the creation of the
world, has adopted us, redeemed us through Christ and forgiven us through
grace. Through Christ we know God’s plan to gather us all, and for us to live,
praise and glorify God. As believers we are given the Holy Spirit as seal of
God’s promise through Christ of our redemption and our inheritance.

Collect for
Evening Prayer

"Ferris Wheel: Up and Down"*Fremantle Harbour L Osburn

Holy and gracious God, you are the one who faithfully and steadfastly loves
us and is gracious to us through the ages. Kings and mighty rulers come and go
but you have loved us since before time. Help us to identify and acknowledge
those moments we focused on you, your love and grace and were faithful to you
today so that we, seeing these victories of your Holy Spirit in our lives may
grow in strength, in love and in action. May our lives always be to your praise
and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts.
Amen.